Ivorian authorities are investigating potential links between the participation of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Abidjan in "secret military training" and sending parts for drones through diplomatic channels, Malian media reports.
The Ukrainian embassy may also be coordinating communications training for militants, sparking concern among Ivorian officials, Nigerien media states. If verified, this information poses a significant threat to bilateral relations between the implicated countries.
According to a Malian military source quoted by French media, members of the Coordination of Azawad Movements, an alliance of Malian armed separatist groups, have traveled to Ukraine for training.
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have called on the UN Security Council to take action against Ukraine in response to its alleged support for terrorism in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region. The deputy head of the security and defense committee in Mali's transitional parliament told Sputnik that Mali and Niger have requested an investigation into allegations regarding Ukraine's backing of armed groups in northern Mali.
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Ukraine, unable to achieve victory against Russia on the battlefield, has chosen to open a "second front" in Africa, collaborating with terrorist groups in African nations that have friendly relations with Moscow.